Brazil: Rio & the Wild Wetlands of the Pantanal

Click tabs for more information

Welcome to Brazil, the perfect setting for a family vacation - a land of incomparable natural and cultural allure. The country’s vivacious South American soul will captivate your family from the second you get to the wildlife-packed Pantanal region and remain with you throughout your stay in the vibrant city of Rio de Janeiro, and long after you’ve returned home.

In the Pantanal you will explore this lush and incredibly diverse biosphere with plenty of opportunities to do some of the best wildlife viewing in the world. You’ll traverse the everglade-like landscape on special Pantanal horses like real Brazilian cowboys, spend a day canoeing down a river that cuts through the watery flatlands, and go out at night to spot jaguars! You’ll then head to the UNESCO World Heritage Site that is Rio de Janeiro. Visit the famous Copacabana beach, take a train ride up Corcovado Hill to come face-to-face with Christ the Redeemer, and visit the Golden Lion Tamarin Association to learn about their efforts to conserve this beautiful animal.

If your family would like, extend your adventure and journey to Iguassu Falls, a breathtaking site and one of the New Seven Wonders of the World.

2016 Dates

Dates

10 or more travelers

6 to 9 travelers

2 to 5 travelers

Internal Air

06/24 - 07/03

$4,990

$5,490

$5,990

$300

07/08 - 07/17

$4,990

$5,490

$5,990

$300

Internal Air: $300 (subject to change)

Child Discount: $200 per child under 12

Alumni Discount: if you are a returning Thomson guest, please subtract $500 per family from these prices

Triple discount: For childern under 12 sharing with two adults: $200

Price includes: All conservation, park and entrance fees; accommodations based on two to a room, land transportation, private bi-lingual guide throughout, most meals, bottled water & snacks in the vehicle, Comprehensive Travel Insurance.

Prices are based on the number of people in your party.

Don't see your travel dates?

Call us, we can personalize any trip to meet your travel needs!

Days 1 and 2 - Depart Home / Arrive Brazil

Welcome to Brazil! You and your family will start your adventure in the city of Cuiaba. Brazil is a country bursting with personality and outstanding wildlife; all ready for you to explore.

Arrival and transfer to the hotel

Welcome dinner with guide and fellow travelers

Days 3-5 - Pantanal

This tropical wetland is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a Biosphere Reserve. It covers somewhere between 54,000 and 81,000 square miles and is home to over 1,000 different types of birds, 300 different mammals, and 3,500 types of plants. You will be able to see wildlife here that you can’t see anywhere else in the world. The expansive diversity in flora and fauna is because of the 12 sub-regional ecosystems that the area consists of. You won’t feel robbed of adventure as long as you’re in the Pantanal!

Transfer from Cuiaba to the Araras Eco Lodge

Discover local botanicals and wildlife on morning safaris

Canoe down the river and fish for piranha

Ride a Pantanal horse and explore the area

Take several nature hikes to look for different flora and fauna

Walk about at night to stargaze or to try and spot a jaguar

Days 6-9 - Rio De Janerio

Rio de Janeiro is an incredibly special city. It has it all, vibrant culture, colorful nightlife, beautiful beaches and mountains, and world renowned sites. In fact, in 2012 the city of Rio was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Rio carries all of the passion you would expect from Brazil with a strong culture of Samba music and football- or as referred to in the U.S., soccer. There is no shortage of excitement in Brazil and you’re family may not want to leave!

Transfer from the Pantanal to Rio, via a flight from Cuiaba

Have rodizio de pizza- where the pizza comes to you

Go up Corcovado Hill to see the famous Christ the Redeemer statue

Spend a day at the Golden Lion Tamarin Project

Take a cooking class with a local Brazilian chef

Explore the famous Ipanema and Copacabana beaches

Check out a professional football match

Take a class and try your hand at Samba dancing

Day 10 - Depart Brazil

Say goodbye to Rio and Brazil. A member of our team will help with your transfer to the airport for your international flight home!

But if you have a few days at the beginning or end of your vacation and you’d like to explore more of Brazil, ask about our Iguassu Falls extension. It’s a true wonder that shouldn’t be missed!

Windsor Atlantica Hotel

The Windsor Atlantica sits along a beautiful stretch of beach on Rio's famous Copacabana waterfront, just five minutes from Ipanema Beach and right near plenty of shopping, restaurants, and nightlife. All of the hotel’s 545 contemporary, comfortable rooms feature central air, wifi, and LCD TVs with cable.

Araras Eco Lodge

Araras Eco Lodge enjoys an ideal location for appreciating and exploring the extraordinary wildlife of the Pantanal, and the Lodge is committed to preserving the spectacular surrounding environment, with many of its own conservation programs. The property contains several wildlife trails, as well as a swimming pool and 19 air-conditioned rooms with screened windows, ceiling fans, and private bathrooms.

Hotel Gran Odara

The Hotel Gran Odara is a place that prides itself on luxury and comfort. All of the rooms and areas within the hotel are spacious and were designed with comfort in mind. The restaurant, AVEC, has a cozy atmosphere and the food is traditional Cuiabana with a lovely French twist. Hotel Gran Odara also has all of the amenities to make your stay as comfortable as possible. Some of the amenities include Wi-Fi, a pool, and a fitness center. We know you’ll enjoy it here!

Please Note:Thomson Family Adventures will attempt to adhere to this itinerary and its hotels as much as possible. However, certain conditions (political, climatic, environmental, cultural, or availability) may necessitate changes in the accommodations.

Why Brazil?

The vast Pantanal wetlands region is home to an astounding concentration of wildlife. A UNESCO World Heritage Site and Biosphere Reserve, the Pantanal contains fauna similar to that of the Amazon, with 698 species of birds, 80 types of mammals, 260 fish species, and 50 species of reptiles. But what really makes the region exceptional is the fact that, unlike the Amazon, the landscape is very flat and open, so the animals aren’t hidden by thick vegetation and rain forest.

You can’t talk about Brazil travel without mentioning Rio. This fascinating port has it all; it’s a large, economically important contemporary city, but with an abundance of beautiful seaside, mountain, and forest landscapes. With 50 miles of beach, an ideal climate, and incredible sites like Sugarloaf and Corcovado mountains and the jaw-dropping icon that is Christ the Redeemer, it’s no wonder Rio de Janeiro receives more visitors per day than any other city in South America. In 2012, the natural landscapes of Rio were declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site for the incredible urban setting between the mountains and the sea.

One of the greatest things about Brazil is its amazingly cultural diversity. The Brazilian national identity is comprised of countless influences from the many indigenous Amerindian groups, three centuries of Portuguese colonization, black African slaves, and newer immigration from all over the world – including quite significant German and Italian communities, among many others. All these influences have come together to form Brazil’s language (Brazilian Portuguese), cuisine, music, dance, religion, martial arts, etc.